The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-24
Prohibition On Rhode Island.

Providence journal: Whatever
may be the cause or causes, it can
lot be denied that prohibition in
Rhode Island, after years expert
ence, is found TO be 80 complete q
failure that it is no extravaganza to
pronounce it miserable farce. II
has not, even approximately, pro-
hibited the use ofint xicating liquor;
il is not today resulting in any per-
ceptible diminuiion OF drunkenness
as compared with former years. 1t
il true that, taking the State as a
whole, the number OF arrests for
drunkenness aud kindred offenses
has been somewhat smaller during
the FIRST twelve months Of prohibit
ton than during the last twelve Of
license. But no broad inference can
be drawn IRON that fact as to what
the law is now doing or is hereafter
to do. During the first few months
after the law went into effect uncer-
tainty and iesr closed many bar
rooms; the result was promptly seen
in the police records, and materially
diminishes the years arrests. But
now!that the sellers have taken cour-
age from experience, the case is dit
ferent. Drunkenness fell of con-
siderably last summer. but since
then il has been increasing through
ont the State, In Providence, for
example, the arrestsior drunkenness
duriug the first three months OF pro-
hibition we're about 80 per cent. less
than during the corresponding period
under license. But now they are
only about % per cent. less, aud the
daily average is fast rising TO that Of
former years. In Pawtucket, also,
the present proportion OF drunken
ness to all criminal oficnses is actual.
ly greater than IL was under the
license law. In Lincoln, measured
by the arrests, the use OF intoXicat-
ing liquor has been fyefold in twelve
mouths. while at Newport, where,
perhaps, prohibition comes nearer
being a success than in any .other
populous part Of the State, drunken
ness has not only alarmingly in.
creased OF late, but the proportion OF
oiienses growing out OF lilunr drink
ing to the total number Of all arrests
is actually 3 per cent, greater than II
was a year ago under the license law.
A similar cond ton is found
throughout the State, except 10 those
few towns where liquor selling was
never common. The use Of intoxi.
Giants is IA excessive now as il ever
was. Prohibition AZ the present
time is doing nothing 10 raise the
moral tone OF the community.
Yet, despite the we'll known fact
that dealing in the forbidden article
IL carried on freely, all attempts 10
stop IL have gradually been given up.
There is no evidence 10 the reports
from Any town that the Chief OF State
Police is or has been Of the slightest
assistance 10 the enforcement OF the
law. and the prosecutions made by
local officers could almost be counted
on the fingers OF one hand. The
seeming impossibility Of securing
convictions has evidently discouraged
the city and town officials, and the
spasmodic attempts at enforcement
which were seen last summer and TALL
have now all over the State given
place to inaction. The result is, Of
course, that the liquor business,
freed from all regulation or molesis-
ton, has grown steadily during the
year. aud today there are known 10
be in the city Of Providence alone At
least thirty.nine moro places whore
liquor is sold under some arrange
mont than there we're licensed sa-
looms under the Old Law. A similar
increase in drinking places is found
in Johnston, Warwick, aud else.
where, aud IN general Il may be
safely said Of the whole State that
there are at least A. many liquor
dealers doing business today as there
wara undar tha hosnao avaipm